Power rake



May 27, 1930.

H. ENARD 1,760,840

POWER RAKE Filed March 20, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Inventor Hluw'Euardflttorw H. ENARD POWER RAKE May 27, 1 930.

d .2 Z w a it! e .l aw. .W l4 new 2 M.\l. J j Q MMv Patented May 27,1930 UNITED STATES HANS ENARD, or

mean

OE PORTLAND, MAINE, A CORPORATION OF MAINE POWER RAKE Application filedMarch 20, 1929. Serial No. 348,636.

Various conveyors and other devices have been constructed or proposed,but sofar as I am advised no really satisfactory means has been producedby which such material can be handled with the desired economy and expemdition. V 1 y There is also in the problem a danger factor, particularlyin handling the material in the large piles in which it is usuallystacked. These piles are by reason of their instability danger factorsfor any human being working directly on or around the stack. It isfurthermore to be understood that while the individual logs are of novery great weight taken singly, they constitute in a mass not only avery considerable weight, but a very considerable resistance and byreason of their physical characteristics and movements impose anunexpected amount of strain and wear on any apparatus used in handlingthem. My invention contemplates the handling of large quantities of pulpwood and the like either in stacking or unstacking or in transferring onor over the storage areas and by doing so under a system in which anoperator U through power connections is able to manipulate the materialfrom a distance and with great rapidity and low cost.

As illustrative of the embodiment of my invention I have shown in theaccompanying 45 drawings a convenient type of apparatus withcharacteristic features of hookup. In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a diagrammaticindication of a q pulp handling area equippedaccording to v l my invention.

Fig. 2 is a sectional View of a scraper drag showing the reversible dragteeth. 1

Fig. 3 is a face View of the drag tooth system.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of my drag complete. Fig. 5 is an edge view of thesame.

Referring first to Fig. 1 I have indicated at A what may be consideredas a pulp wood storage area which is usually of considerable extent. Forthe purposes of the present dis.- cussion it maybe considered that thisarea is not only a storage but a handling and rehandling area and thusinvolving the great est number of possible combinations of operationthat may be required. l

At one side of the area and'preferably on convenient opposed sides arerun trackways It on which are movably mounted handling towers T havingsuitable power equipment for operating ropes L and L. It will beunderstood that it is not essential in smaller areas to have two movabletowers or even to have a tower movable. A'single tower fixed or movablein whole or in part may be used by running the reverse line to a returnpulley fixed'to a dead man or like anchorage.

Whatever the immediate plan of the rig may be, my invention conceives ofit as able to move in opposite directions and alongv as many lines aspossible a pick up drag 10. This apparatus is reversible, that is tosay, will operate either side up. This is important because with suchmaterial in instable assembly, there is constant tendency to capsize oroverturn any apparatus used to operate upon it. Another problem in suchan apparatus lies in the fact that it must be operated inopposite'directions with a maximum engaging effect in one and a minimumof resistance in the other. These and other requirements I have met inaccordance with my invention as I will now explain by reference to theapparatus illustrated.

Referring to Figs. 4 and 5 I have indicated at generally the frame of'areversible drag member the forward end of which is built out as atapered extension 11 and having a leading shackle 12. for the attachmentof the forward drag line L. The forward portion 11 is preferably openedup as at 13 to lighten structure while permitting an adequate length atthe prow of the drag for leading and riding purposes.

In the body of the drag I provide another opening 14 in which arepivoted a series of spaced pick up teeth 20. These teeth as may be bestunderstood by l'GflQllCQ to Fig. 2 are somewhat triangular in shape eachbeing pivoted at what may be considered as their apex on amain bearing21 to ears 22 pro jccting forwardly from the transverse frame at therear of the opening 1%. The forward face (or triangle base) of eachtooth is concaved or curvedas at 20 its face view being best shown inFig. 3 which also shows the spaced relation of the pick up teeth. Thewidth and spacing of these teeth may be varied according to the natureof the objects being handled and in the case of pulp wood selected asrepresenting the field of most urgent usefulness as discussed herein,this spacing would be about 2 feet with the tooth face preferably about9 inches in width. This detail of proportion is only offered asillustrative as well adapted to handling 4- foot sticks of pulp wood ofaverage diameter.

' The'forward edges of the tooth 20 are movable through pockets 14defined by projecting guide members 15 formed on the cross beam "at theforward side of the opening 14.

At its rear the frame 10 "preferably is vertically tapered as at 16 andto it is hinged by any suitable connection, as by clevis 17, atriangular rear extension 18; which iscapable of yielding upwardlyasindicated in Fig.

This portion l8has at its end a linei connection 19 for the attachmentof the rearward drag line L Bysuch a riding rear section 18 I am able torelieve the resistanceof the drag member in its rearward or reversedmotion. It accomplishes this by yielding or riding upwardly on any logor group of logs which may be in its path as the drag is drawn backward,The result of this feature is a very considerable saving in powerwithout any loss of tractive' efficiency in the connection. of the rearline to the drag body.

Attention has been called to the reversibility'of the teeth 20 inthedrag. This accomplishes two very important results; In the first place,it provides for a maximum depth of tooth contact with the mass operatedon, while at the same time automatically withdrawing on reverse motion,and in the second place, avoids top-heaviness in the drag so that thereis a minimum tendency of the drag to overturn or capsize and lose itsscraping engagement with the wood being handle V i As devices inaccordance with my invention are absolutely reversible, this holds truewhichever side up the device may be'worling, so that delays are avoidedand the apparatus handled without the "necessity of risking accident bysending workmen on drag in case illustrated is one of extremesimplicity, malt- .1ng posslble a very strong and durable construction.Operation on even such short lengths as 4 feet involves a wear and tearon such apparatus far beyond usual expectation. Such an embodiment as isshown can bemade of heavy frame ironsand is preferably decked withboiler plate so that a flat broad drag provided with tapered ends eventhough of very shallow depth can be made of very great strength.

ID'OPGIZLt-lOIl, as indicated in Fig. 1, the operator stationed abovehis field of opera tion as in a tower T is able to manipulate such anapparatus over a greatvariety of lines of direction so as to completelycover the operating area in which the wood is to be handled. 1

I I have illustrated in Fig. 1 a pair of similar towers working onparallelor substantially parallel traclrways, but as before suggestedone of these towersmight be stationary or instead of being a tower mightbe simple anchorage for the pulley of the reverse line These towers maybe variously rigged and manned, and with electric controls the wholeapparatus may be operated by a single operawn The apparatus indicatedwhile simple is of very high efficiency and niakesit possible to handlelarge amounts of pulp wood or like material with great rapidity andat'very low cost. In addition to tliis,'as stated above, the operationscan be carried on with safety to the workmenso that the number ofaccidents usually incidentto such operations are practically eliminated.It is to be understood that the embodiment shownis offered as generallyillustrative and not as detailed or restricted, except as indicated bythe claims.

What I therefore claim and desire to secure by Letters Patentis:

1. In a'handling device for pulp wood or the like, a drag frame having aflat face and adapted to be drawn from either end, and a plurality ofspaced log engaging members movably mounted in said. frame and eachhaving a claw protrudable upon engagement with a load upon movement inone direction, and recedable upon movement of the drag in the oppositedirection.

2. In a handling device for pulp wood or the like, a drag frame having afiat bearing face adapt-ed to be drawn from'either end, and a pluralityof spaced engaging members o ab y mounted n said f ame and eac having abearing edge, and a claw protrudable upon engagement with a load uponmovement in. one direction, and partially recedable upon movement of thedrag n the P- posite direction, andmeans for supporting the engagingmembers in partially receded position to expose the hearing edge beyondthe drag face.

3. A log handling device compr1s1ng a drag frame havm o3 osite bearinfaces I D Z) and adapted to be drawn from either end,

longitudinally disposed spaced triangular engagin members pivoted attheir apices to said frame and having their base ends formed as clawpoints exposed beyond the faces of the drag, said claws beingprotrudable upon engagement with the load so as to extend beyond thehearing face when drawn in one direction and recedahle when drawn in theop posite direction.

1-. A log handling device comprising a drag frame having a bearing faceand adapted to be drawn from either end, longitudinally disposed spacedtriangular engaging members pivoted at their apices to said frame andhaving their base ends formed as claw points exposed beyond the faces ofthe drag, said claws being protrudable upon engagement with the load soas to extend beyond the bearing face w 1811 drawn in one direction andpartially recedable when drawn in the opposite direction.

5. A log handling device comprising a drag frame having a supportingface and adapted to be drawn from either end, said frame havinglongitudinal apertures, spaced engaging members pivoted in saidapertures at one end and each having a movable end formed as a clawpoint exposed beyond the drag face, said claws protrudable uponengagement with the load so as to extend beyond the drag face when drawnin one direction and recedalole when drawn in the opposite direction.

6. In a handling device for pulp wood or the like, a drag frame having atapered leading end, a plurality of laterall spaced teeth having clawfaces disposed toward the leading end, a tapered reverse end framepivoted to the drag frame and disposed opposite to the leading end andadapted to yield when the drag is withdrawn, and means for drawing thedrag from either end.

7. In a handling device for pulp wood or the like, a drag frame having aleading end, a'

plurality of laterally spaced teeth. having claw faces disposed towardthe leading end, a reverse end frame hinged to the drag frame anddisposed opposite to the leading end and adapted to yield when the dragis withdrawn, and means for drawing the drag from either end.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

HANS ENARD.

